Nico Paz scored twice and set up another as Como beat Manchester United 4-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in the Champions League. Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramón also scored, leaving Michael Carrick’s side winless in seven matches in all competitions.
Como, Italy: Como’s first European campaign has found its defining night. On a rain-soaked Wednesday at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Cesc Fàbregas’s side scored inside two minutes, never looked back and took Manchester United apart.
Paz strikes before United settle
Diogo Dalot curled an effort wide for the visitors in the opening minutes. Como then scored from their first real attack. Paz cut inside onto his left foot and bent a shot past Senne Lammens in the second minute.
Como kept the pressure on. They appealed for a penalty in the 19th minute when Martin Baturina went down under a challenge from Harry Maguire, but the referee waved play on. Carrick changed his team at the interval, sending on Amad Diallo and Carlos Baleba for Matheus Cunha and Andrey Santos.
Two goals in eight minutes
Another early blow followed the restart. Paz slipped a pass through to Douvikas, who ran clear of Matthijs de Ligt and finished in the 49th minute. It was Douvikas’s third goal in as many Champions League games.
The third came from a United error. Baleba’s pass in his own half was cut out, and Paz carried the ball into the area and scored with his left foot in the 57th minute. Lammens later denied him a hat-trick, and Paz left the pitch to a standing ovation after scoring twice and creating one.
Ramón heads the fourth
Como were not finished. Substitute Kaiki swung in a cross in the 76th minute and Jacobo Ramón headed it in for 4-0. Joshua Zirkzee gave United something to take home in stoppage time, finishing from an Amad Diallo cross.
Amad was denied earlier by Como goalkeeper Jean Butez, and Maguire headed wide at the other end. The numbers tell a harsher story than the late goal: Como put eight of their 11 shots on target to United’s four from 13, and held 55 per cent of the ball.
Carrick’s problems deepen
United were without several players, including the suspended Leny Yoro, and De Ligt made his first start since last November. The result extends a winless run to seven matches in all competitions. It also repeats a pattern: last week United conceded inside the first minute in a 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid, and on Sunday they drew 1-1 at Leeds in the Premier League.
United stay on three points from three league-phase games. Como have six. Carrick’s next chance to end the run comes at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
Result: Como 4-1 Manchester United (UEFA Champions League, league phase, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Wednesday, 21 October 2026).
Goals: Paz 2′, 57′, Douvikas 49′, Ramón 76′ (Como); Zirkzee 90+1′ (Manchester United).
Referee: Sven Jablonski.
